[Press Release] Towards a Universal Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty

The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty [1] has produced a detailed report on the strategies, arguments and perspectives for a universal moratorium on the use of the death penalty. The report emphasises the important and necessary role moratorium plays in advancing universal abolition.

Fittingly and purposefully, this report is being released just before the 4th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Geneva (24th – 26th of February). The 4th World Congress will assemble abolitionists from around the world and give them the opportunity to canvass ideas and strategies for fighting the death penalty. One of the main topics of discussion will be that of moratorium.

At present, there are 58 countries where the death penalty is still applied ; of which 25 execute prisoners each year. Nevertheless, hope remains as there is a clear and indisputable trend towards abolition. Recent history has seen 104 countries abolish the death penalty and there are currently 35 countries that have a moratorium on executions.

The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty was created in 2002 to promote universal abolition by all means – including specific and universal moratorium. The report points out that the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty would like to see more countries support the upcoming UN General Assembly resolution for a moratorium in December 2010.

One of the countries detailed in the report is the USA. This country has already had an interesting moratorium history. In 1972 the Supreme Court (in Furman v Georgia) ordered a moratorium for a revision of capital punishment legislation. This moratorium lasted 4 years and resulted in the abolition of the death penalty in many states.

Unfortunately many states re-implemented their death penalty legislation. Even so, it did open the eyes of legislatures on this issue. Since this moratorium, there have been more and more calls for abolition and moratorium. Currently there are moratorium bills in progress in both Alabama and Missouri.

On the 10th of October this year the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty will dedicate the World Day Against the Death Penalty to the USA to further its work on moratorium and abolition.